24) Brandon Michael Simmons (US)
04/16/24 • 25 min
Brandon is a queen breeder and the 3rd generation beekeeper from North Carolina USA. His business, Foothill Farm and Apiary offers nucs, production queens and breeders. In this episode Brandon tells us what it was like starting a breeding program with artificial insemination.
0:00 Introduction
2:00 A family of beekeepers
4:00 Brandon’s breeding program
4:35 Allogrooming
7:58 Learning AI
9:54 Introducing AI queens
14:16 Drones
16:00 AI - Is it worth it?
17:13 Being treatment free for mites
19:40 1500 chicken egg incubator for queen cells
21:20 Where you can find Brandon online
22:05 Sting Stoppers (A bee suit suit company Brandon is affiliated with)
Email Brandon [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/foothillsfarmandapiary/
Sting Stoppers Bee Suits https://stingstopper.buzz/?sca_ref=5347826.Bpf4wrrNuN
Join the podcast Facebook community group - This is a great place to comment on the episode, share some of your own tips or just say hi!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/breedingthehoneybee
Podcast proudly brought to you by
Brent Nixon at Nixon Queen Bees (Ballarat VIC, Australia)
https://nixonqueenbees.com.au/
Email Brent
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nixonqueenbees/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nixonqueenbees/
YouTube:
Brandon is a queen breeder and the 3rd generation beekeeper from North Carolina USA. His business, Foothill Farm and Apiary offers nucs, production queens and breeders. In this episode Brandon tells us what it was like starting a breeding program with artificial insemination.
0:00 Introduction
2:00 A family of beekeepers
4:00 Brandon’s breeding program
4:35 Allogrooming
7:58 Learning AI
9:54 Introducing AI queens
14:16 Drones
16:00 AI - Is it worth it?
17:13 Being treatment free for mites
19:40 1500 chicken egg incubator for queen cells
21:20 Where you can find Brandon online
22:05 Sting Stoppers (A bee suit suit company Brandon is affiliated with)
Email Brandon [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/foothillsfarmandapiary/
Sting Stoppers Bee Suits https://stingstopper.buzz/?sca_ref=5347826.Bpf4wrrNuN
Join the podcast Facebook community group - This is a great place to comment on the episode, share some of your own tips or just say hi!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/breedingthehoneybee
Podcast proudly brought to you by
Brent Nixon at Nixon Queen Bees (Ballarat VIC, Australia)
https://nixonqueenbees.com.au/
Email Brent
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nixonqueenbees/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nixonqueenbees/
YouTube:
Previous Episode
23) Willie Robson (UK)
Willie Robson is the biggest keeper of the old English black bee in the world. His family business is Chain Bridge Honey Farm, which was established in 1948 by Willie’s father. Willie has been working in the business since 1962 and now works alongside his wife and children. Chain Bridge Honey Farm is based in Horncliffe which is in the UK but right on the Scottish border.
00:00 Introduction
2:18 The biggest English black bee breeder in the world
7:50 Total Natural Immunity
9:45 Varroa and Willie’s bees
10:30 Working with black bees
11:30 Black bee reserves
12:15 The future of the black bee in the UK
13:12 Willie’s favourite part about beekeeping
14:15 Chain Bridge Honey Farm showroom
16:30 Advice to new beekeepers
17:30 Brother Adam
Check out willie’s business website
https://www.chainbridgehoney.com/
Join the podcast Facebook community group - This is a great place to comment on the episode, share some of your own tips or just say hi!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/breedingthehoneybee
Podcast proudly brought to you by
Brent Nixon at Nixon Queen Bees (Ballarat VIC, Australia)
https://nixonqueenbees.com.au/
Email Brent
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nixonqueenbees/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nixonqueenbees/
YouTube:
Next Episode
25) Shibu Raj (US)
Shibu is a Queen breeder in Columbia Tennessee. He sells queens, nucs and AI equipment, which he also offers training for. At the time of releasing this episode Shibu had just had a tornado go through his property and cause a lot of destruction. Below is the link to the gofundme which you can follow if you would like to support Shibu in rebuilding his business.
Help Shibu get back on track
https://www.facebook.com/2RiversHoneyBees
https://www.tworivershoneybees.com/
Contact Brent
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